DIG TEXAS: AN ALLIANCE TO PROMOTE THE GEOSCIENCES AND DIVERSIFY ITS WORKFORCE

DIG TEXAS (Diversity and Innovation for Geosciences in Texas) has established a community of geoscientists and educators from across Texas dedicated to enhancing diversity in the geosciences and to improving geosciences literacy among Texas high school science teachers. The project has built a collaborative network linking K-12 educators with leadership teams at fourteen regional DIG TEXAS hub institutions. Members of the alliance work cooperatively on multiple fronts to attract and support individuals from groups underrepresented in STEM fields to pursue earth science as a career. At a workshop in March 2011, participants established priorities for activities that would promote alliance goals. Subsequent activities include: 1) broadening the community of stakeholders through additional collaborative activities at two university open house events, Aggieland Saturday (at Texas A&M) and Explore UT (Austin); 2) creation of a DIG Texas brand and a project website to provide information and resources to members; 3) monitoring of State Board of Education activities in order to respond to initiatives or issues that affect K-12 earth science education; and 4) a new project sponsored by the NSF to develop five online course road maps, or blueprints, for use in high school Earth and Space Science classes.